Simply put, this blog will staunchly promote the preservation of historic architecture of Northeast Ohio (and elsewhere, occasionally), and will simultaneously attack the high-rollers who always seem to get all the political support they want, regardless of how much of our history gets destroyed. The opinions you will read here will definitely be of the pull-no-punches variety. Money, and the corrupted 'politics' it has created, will receive nothing but the scorn it deserves!

Monday, January 19, 2009

SEA OF HOLES

A perhaps even larger hole [see previous post] to soon appear on a main Cleveland, Ohio, thoroughfare will be on Euclid Avenue, just east of E. 55th. Also scheduled for demolition are two adjacent commercial buildings, one built in 1882 to the designs of Cleveland architects Albert Smith and Anthony Myers [the bottom image], and its 'annex' built in 1895 to the designs of the same, then-partnerless Albert Smith. These two buildings are the sole surviving vestiges of the period when a bustling commercial district existed right here due to the highly used passenger rail station at E. 55th and Euclid. When rail travel declined, so did this district, followed not long after by the severe decline of all of Euclid Avenue and its nearby streets. Interestingly, with the recent cosmetic overhaul of Euclid Avenue, inflatingly promoted as the beginning of a "revival" of the avenue's glorious past, it was easy to think that what was built literally during that hallowed era would be coveted. But, no -- the hypocrisy here knows no bounds. Other historic buildings, across the street from these two, were recently demolished [see the November 2005 archives of this blog] for a 'bike-lane' (which, of course, has since been "used" about as much as the new sidewalks adjacent to it, in front of the expansive now-vacant lots). Clearly, the misguided "Urban Renewal" philosophies of the 1950s are still "alive and well" in Cleveland, even when the "renewal" results in vacant lots. The Beatles wrote about a presumed-imaginary place called the Sea Of Holes -- but, Cleveland is revealing to the whole world that it wasn't imaginary, after all!! ------ NOTE: THESE BUILDINGS WERE DEMOLISHED IN THE SPRING OF 2009.

8 Comments:

It's frustrating coming back home to such a tacky city, having lived in Boston for a while--there's no appreciation here of the built heritage. Tacky, tasteless, pedestrian, wasteful--a city with these low-class, no-class attributes doesn't go very far. People wonder why kids don't stay here and settle down--it's too heartbreaking to see art and artifacts wasted as part of the typical civic process. It doesn't have to be this way.

Bicycle lanes are such an after thought for ODOT and RTA planning that your suggestion that the building was torn down to achieve a four foot width of asphalt is beyond laughable. Others, and perhaps you as well, are looking for excuses.

I never have to "look for excuses" when I tell a story on this blog. And, if it's just my opinion, I'll say so on the blog.I got the bicycle lane story from the Cleveland Landmarks Commission who had to 'review' the demolition requests, and from RTA themselves via a Euclid Corridor newsletter they were putting out. And destroying historic buildings for a bike lane isn't a laughing matter. Unfortunately, there's a prevailing mindset in Cleveland that these are just "old" buildings, standing in the way of "progress". And if you, Kevin, agree with such things, why are you wasting your time looking at a pro-preservation site, anyway??

First, off I favor preservation, so I read the notes here with interest. I think if they tear down the church and building on Superior and E. 18th or so, it's areal loss.

The following is a note that erred, when I tried to post it this am, though I shared it with Tim Ferris....

RTA and ODOT make decisions and cycling on Euclid was not the biggest issue on their mind, so I don't think it's fair to attribute cycling as the reason for tearing down a building. RTA and ODOT didn't mind adjusting cycling safety when it fits their desires and needs. For instance, on Euclid Avenue there are points where the bike lane actually disappears (for instance at E. 55th St. as you proceed eastunder a railroad bridge or west on the opposite side of the street).

The explanation was that the street could not be widened at this point. Where the lane disappears, the cyclist merges with traffic. Another, there have been instances in which RTA drivers have turned right into pedestrian cross walks and injured (or killed) pedestrians. While I believe these accidents are at Public Square, the sametraffic patterns occurs along Euclid, where cars cross across a bike lane in order to turn right. Cyclists traveling in this bike, proceeding straight, are vulnerable as a result. In conclusion, there were a lot of decisions made on Euclid Avenue.As a cyclist I appreciate many of them, but please don't think thatthe major decisions along Euclid Avenue where made with cycling andsafety in mind. RTA and ODOT were perfectly happy to reduce cyclingsafety when it suited there needs. I think, from a preservationists' standpoint, you are expressing concern that they didn't adjust the plan for preservationist goals on this building. I don't recall a hugeoutcry to protect the buildings during the process, but that was the time to make the case.

My guess is cyclists and preservationists are probably aligned, as cyclists tend to appreciate the road and city asgiven. I love riding in Cleveland because of the variety of buildings and opportunities to appreciate them and nature. Cyclists aren't the ones asking for major highways or roads or tearing down large swathsof the city. We are asking for some notice and visibility on theroads, seeking the safety that results.

Kevin --Thank you for your very informative (and friendlier) comment. I, too, am a byclist, although I don't practice this as much as I suspect you do. I can appreciate all you've mentioned. Nevertheless, what I wrote in my response to your original comment still holds. I don't make things up and put them on to this blog. It was decided to widen Euclid Avenue, for a median (gives the street a sort of boulevard feel but certainly not necessary), and a bike lane. The median alone would have only 'cancelled out' the sidewalk in front of those buildings; the bike lane made it necessary to remove the buildings. The desperation to get some sort of 'life' back on to Euclid Avenue means that ANYTHING will be 'sacrificed'. What is the point of having a bike lane, or 'gussying up' a street with a median, if what it is passing through is large expanses of vacant land on either side? This is potentially a HUGE topic and I think it best we not consume much more of the space on the blog with this. You are always welcome to e-mail me off-blog. Thank you for your thoughtful observations.

About Me

What I do for "a living" in unimportant. What IS important is that I am a 'rabid' preservationist, and I am sick and tired of all the historic buildings in our area being lost, on a regular basis, just because someone has enough MONEY to construct something in their places. This blog may not change anything for the better, but it will at least make me feel good that I got to express my opinions. I hope it may get some of you out there to start a little 'fight' for some historic buildings, too. I'd like to hear from you. Send comments to: secemp@hotmail.com